Mission statement: On this blog we explore why homeschooling can be a better option for children and families than a traditional classroom setting. We'll also explore homeschooling issues in general, educational thoughts, family issues, and some other random stuff.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Gratitude

A few of the speakers yesterday at church talked about the
importance of gratitude. As Thanksgiving
is just around the corner I’m thinking more about some of the things for which
I am grateful. One of the speakers
referenced studies which found that people who have an attitude of
gratitude tend to be happier, more successful and live longer.

One of the things I am grateful for is homeschooling. I am grateful we don’t have a conflict in what we teach our
children, for example being thankful for their many, many blessings. Society in general teaches children to want
more. Public schools especially foster
an environment of focusing on material things and trying to keep up with the
Jones. It would be hard for Janine and I to spend
a couple hours a day trying to help our children recognize how richly blessed
we are and then have them spend eight hours a day with their fellow students where
they learn to want more and be dissatisfied with what they have.

For several months this year our family was in the habit of
writing thank-you notes each week. We
would step back and think of those who had touched our lives for the
better. With the craziness of the soccer
season we got out of the habit. Now that
soccer is over I’ll get my family going again on writing a few thank-you notes.

There is much in the world we can complain about. There are many problems. Sometimes I feel a bit like Don Quixote who
was driven mad because his society was so decadent. We should work to make the world a better
place. However, there is also much good
in the world and it helps to remember our many blessings.